This series starts very strong.
It just leaves you hanging for a few episodes, indulging in its mystery.
That’s risky, because most people want to be satisfied right away (look no further than the ratings of the first few episodes on this site).
It’s actually quite concerning to see how short people’s attention spans are becoming.
Like, if you couldn’t get through the first few episodes here, don’t even try to watch Lost.
Speaking of Lost, this series reminded me a lot of it, both good and bad.
The acting is superb, especially from Olsen, and it’s great at setting up atmosphere and an intriguing mystery.
Also, Wanda feels more like a fleshed out character now.
However, it just kinda falls apart at the end.
The series tries so hard to intrigue you with questions, that it all leads to a very rushed third act.
The reveals are either predictable ( the hex exists because of Wanda’s grief ) or nonsensical.
Furthermore, there are many things that aren’t answered whatsoever.
It all results in a terrible final episode, where character motivations are thin ( What’s Agatha’s exact motivation? What’s Hayward’s motivation? ) and the show rushes through new developments that aren’t earned, because they haven’t been set-up properly ( Wanda’s new costume, white Vision becoming a substitute for purple Vision ), not to even mention the very shoddy CGI during the fight scenes.
6.5/10
As the dust settles on Wandavision, I think we can see things a bit more clearly. I know I was regularly more of a dissenting opinion on this show each week, but it comes from a place of love for the genres the series pulled from and a desire for Wandavision to challenge itself more deeply. Although there a breaths of fresh air throughout the nine episode arc, Wandavision instead settles for sufficiently moving explorations of loss done in a method that feels shockingly unsure of itself considering the massive creative gamble presented by the first few episodes. Don't get me wrong, Wandavision is solid television. But when putting any irons to this fire, the facades it wanted to rest on reveal themselves to be as illusory as Westview itself.
The most interesting part of watching Wandavision week to week was seeing everyone who was not into the sitcom episodes be so lackluster on them only to retroactively become so much more into them after the fact, while many of us (myself included) who were on board for the weird fiction became more dissatisfied as the tone eventually became entirely scrapped by the finale. And listen, I'm not saying it was a bad way to plot it out like this, but the first few episodes stick out like a sore thumb. After watching the pilot, I really loved what I was seeing, but knew that what we watched was probably a failure of a pilot: it didn't present the show as we were going to get it, it functioned as a tease when the rug was pulled out from under us. And as the episodes wore on, that proved to be the case. The weird, nearly Lynchian tone of the opening was a gimmick. The metaphoric interpretation was shallow. Wandavision did very little with the profound potential of being trapped in a meta 50s set sitcom. For a point of comparison, look at the first episode of Twin Peaks: The Return. From the get go, Lynch showed us the surrealist tendencies of the season. He didn't waiver from that. It was consistent throughout and was frequently moving and always exceptional.
But in Wandavision, the surrealist flourishes of those sitcom episodes don't mean anything more than visualizing Wanda's escapism by using the flawed picturesque, idealistic sitcom of the 1950s. But that's it. There's little more to it than that. There could have been some explorations of women's rights and gender roles in the 50s as portrayed by sitcoms (hell, I Love Lucy even did that when it was on television); there could have been commentary on how Wanda had trapped herself in a reality she set up for herself. But it didn't. And so the figurative interpretation became so simple that the sitcom gimmick likely had to be dropped because they weren't pushing themselves any further. It still feels weird that the show leaned so hard into it in those early episodes, but considering the show's eventual conclusion I understand why it was dropped.
And I think that's likely the root of my opinion of Wandavision. I love surrealism and I love weird fiction. So, when I thought I was going to get those things in the MCU, I was pumped. Those early episodes teased the tip of the iceberg for something similar not only to Twin Peaks, but also things like Annihilation, Maniac, or even Legion. But it didn't. It eventually reverted back to something more similar to the rest of the MCU. And I really like the MCU, but the bait and switch didn't sit well with me. It might not really be entirely on me, but Wandavision led me on.
THE BETTER: ‘WANDAVISION’
WRITING: 80
ACTING: 100
LOOK: 100
SOUND: 100
FEEL: 95
NOVELTY: 100
ENJOYMENT: 90
RE-WATCHABILITY: 100
INTRIGUE: 85
EXPECTATIONS: 90
THE GOOD:
We have never seen such emotional levels and beautiful character development within the MCU as shown here. The streaming series format truly allows the writers to flesh all characters out, whether they are the main players or supporting characters. Nothing Marvel Studios has released so far has been this close to drama, save for Avengers: Endgame.
The first three episodes are a spot-on tribute to classic American sitcoms. The amount of detail put into the writing, acting, cinematography, costuming and set decoration is breathtaking and makes you appreciate the production side of the series significantly more.
We might have gone into this show with the wrong expectations, but in retrospect, it is admirable how the creators chose to keep the focus on Wanda and Vision and their relationship rather than try to cram the tail end of the show to the breaking point with references, fan service and pointless cameos.
Avengers: Endgame aside, the MCU has never truly allowed its stars to shine with their acting skills. WandaVision allows Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany to shine in terms of dramatic, comedy and period-accurate acting, with the former in particular putting in an impressive performance.
The supporting cast is nothing short of great. Katheryn Hahn appears in a role that might very well be her finest to date, while Evan Peters proves he can be both funny and mysterious. Teynoah Parris turns better and better for each episode. Josh Stamberg makes a memorable turn as the villainous S.W.O.R.D director Hayward, offering a performance that makes him deliciously unlikeable.
The soundtrack is hilarious, catchy and delicious and among the very best within the MCU. The ‘Agatha All Along’ song is the best piece of songwriting Disney has released since The Lion King.
The writers cleverly combine already established character history with new and fascinating additions, allowing for Wanda’s transformation into the Scarlet Witch and the establishment of magic different to the one depicted in Doctor Strange.
Once again, Marvel Studios cleverly draws inspiration from classic comic book storylines, while twisting them to better suit the world and the continuity of this version of the Marvel Universe. There are plenty of references for fans to catch as well as subtle hints at things to come.
The six-hour runtime allows the writers to tell multiple stories, which means we get the origin stories for a new superhero (Spectrum/Photon) and a new supervillain (Agatha) as well as the continued fallout from Endgame (first explored in Spider-Man: Far From Home).
THE BAD:
While the first two or three episodes might feel frustratingly slow, the final episode is sadly rushed. 50 minutes isn’t enough to satisfyingly tie every plot point together, and it’s sad to see the promising character development given to Monica, Jimmy and Darcy blown away just like that.
It seems like a waste to re-introduce audiences to Darcy and Jimmy only to do very little with them. Darcy shows up for a quick scene in the final episode and poor Jimmy is left out of the action every single time.
Similarly, it’s a pity the origin of Monica’s powers are explored but then dropped without further explanation, leaving the audience to wonder what her powers are supposed to be exactly.
The Boehner joke might very well be the most severe case of trolling Marvel Studios has been involved in so far. It brings the Mandarin debacle from Iron Man 3 to shame.
The final episode feels very formulaic, which is a shame considering almost everything that comes before it.
The first couple of episodes feature some genuinely funny comedy, but as the series progresses, the humour kind of turns staler and less funny.
THE UGLY:
A synthezoid superhero defeating his evil albino clone with philosophy - that must be a first!
THE VERDICT:
Marvel Studios’ first foray into the world of long-form storytelling is a nearly flawless mix of sitcom history, dramatic storytelling and comic book shenanigans. It sets the MCU’s Disney+ era off to a good start.
94% = :white_check_mark::white_check_mark: = BETTER
This is series is not worth watching, don't waste your time because it starts in point A, and goes to point A, it doesn't change anything really, it only works as an ad for the next show/movie, and the character arc is not earned.
Now spoilers This series is basically a show about a woman that transformed reality of a city by torturing everyone inside it (they will always remember that) because she can't control her powers and can't cope with the fact that she lost someone. Ok, good setup, but the problem is that in the end, Wand don't really fell sorry, and if they tried to make that, it was not earned, because she goes unpunished and it is very possibly she won't have a redemption arc. Then, this series still could be good by make a point of Wanda being the protagonist and being the villain. Nah, they made one character that I don't remember his name (will call The Director) into an asshole so we can sympathize with Wanda instead of giving him reasons for trying to kill Wanda to save the people in the city. It is even worse when Photon that said the people should be thankful for Wanda. WHAT? BEING THANKFUL FOR TORTURING PEOPLE? Another character that new Marvel turns into a dipshit. So, no, the show could be really good if they were not trying so hard to manipulate us in liking Wanda and Photon instead of presenting different views on the same subject, that would have been much better, but nah, lets make a lazy script that goes nowhere.
WandaVision is an absolutely great show. It started out funny and weird, and got weirder and more suspenseful as it went. Elizabeth Olson was a fantastic lead, and between her and Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, I think it is now well established that women can lead Marvel projects with aplomb.
From the very first episode it is easy to see that there is something wrong, as Vision doesn't have any memory of how he and Wanda got there, or what he does at work. The mystery increases as the show goes on, and the ending is full of some absolutely superb acting from Olson, who turns out is the "villain" -- she has caused the problems in the town, but has done so unconsciously and does manage to set things right. It shows a lead up to further problems in the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- even though Wanda did not mean to endanger the townsfolk and set them all free in the end, they will never see her as a good person, but as a person to fear, and probably as a monster.
Paul Bettany as Vision and Kathryn Hahn as Agnes/Agatha Harkness are also superb in this show; indeed, it would be only half as good without Hahn. Add in Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, and this show is an absolute powerhouse of incredible women actors portraying incredible women incredibly.
MY THOUGHTS ON WANDAVISION:
-WARNING: Spoilers Below-
Wow, what a show this was. Marvel strikes again and proves to us when it comes to current television they are the top dog. WandaVision was a brilliant show that shows the damaging effects of denial and PTSD. I feel like it was a beautiful way to show mental health without it seeming negative or damaging.
The thing I liked most about this is how it let us get closer to Wanda in ways we would have never been able to in the movies. We got to see her in less of a "superhero" light and in more of a "human" light and I really liked that. I loved how we slowly got to go through the television eras and that they changed all the interior and outfits of the characters accordingly. The talent this production team has is honestly unrivalled.
If you're a big fan of the MCU then I honestly think you'll love this show and you should watch this mainly because it not only shows characters in new lights but it opens up MANY doors for the future of the MCU. I really can't wait to see how the expand upon it and how they explore the Multiverse.
I was very dubious when this was announced mainly because in the movies I never really cared much for Wanda or Vision but now I have a new liking to them. Are they my favourite characters? No. Do I now like them a lot more and respect them more than I ever would have? Yes. ALSO the slow progression Wanda took from being Wanda into the Scarlet Witch was amazing! And she was extremely badass at the end, well all throughout she was badass but the ending she was ESPECIALLY BADASS.
Overall I would definitely recommend you watch this whether you're a Marvel fan or not. It's a beautifully produced show and everything was done how I'd expect it to be done. The only downfall for me is that at times the pacing gets a little slow and it can be a tad bit boring but that's such a tiny price to pay for this beautiful experience.
Overall rating: 9/10
This was a sweet homage to television. I'm not a die hard Marvel fan, I love the lore but the Marvel movies that share a continuity usually leave me empty, and the company's first foray into TV had me feel the same way. It's not terrible, it just didn't blow me away like the first season of Legion, which was groundbreaking and nerve wracking. This thinks it's that and I'm sure basic Marvel fans will think its groundbreaking (the moment Monica leaves the hex and you hear Daydream Believer, you could already sense the folks were trying their best to do a scary whacky feel that a Lynch or Gilliam film would offer you).
That being said, if you think Elizabeth Olsen is great, you should watch her on the short lived Facebook TV series Sorry for Your Loss. If you think this is the first time Kathryn Hahn has been given a juicy role, do look up her resume from the past decade, one of the best things she did was a tiny miniseries called Mrs. Fletcher, check it out. That being said, this was entertaining and did quench my thirst during this TV drought (I talk about this in my log for It's a Sin). I really think this, Thor Ragnarok and Captain America: The Winter Soldier show that Marvel is capable to recognizing other films (or TV in this case) of a different genre and using that aesthetic very timidly to tell a different story.
What began w/ such great promise ended w/ lots of questions for what might have been. This show began as an original production of an old idea repackaged in a way that was fresh and new. I think the problem w/ this was the backstory was particularly interesting, but the writers let the audience in on the secret much too early on. There wasn't enough here to sustain nine full episodes. Instead, they should've slowly let out details of what was going on. However, as w/ many Marvel/DC vehicles, this was also used to setup a future project, so the introduction of certain characters took precedence over the total effects of the storyline.
On a related note, I will say that the production value of this show was quite high. I never looked at the CGI and thought about suspending disbelief. All the way through, it was an enjoyable watch. In comparable DC television shows, such as Titan, for example, one of the main problems, aside from the awful writing, was the undeniably bad CGI. It was such a problem, main storylines and characters had to be rearranged in order to facilitate a reduced reliance on these effects. One of the reasons why She-Hulk's CGI effects were called into question was that it was an anomaly for a Marvel show, whereas in DC shows, it's been commonplace across their spectrum of television offerings. But, I digress. This show looked great, but unfortunately, we were let in on the secret far too early.
WandaVision is a 2021 American television series featuring the Marvel Comics characters Wanda Maximoff (better known as Scarlet Witch) and Vision. The series follows the characters living through different time period sitcoms, but nothing is what it seems to be.
There was a lot of hype around WandaVision, and as a casual Marvel fan, I wanted to watch it.
I thought the cast did amazingly well in this series. I’m intrigued with Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch) as a comic book series character, so it was great to watch something that centers around her (played by Elizabeth Olsen) instead of the main Avenger films, which view the character as only someone wielding mysterious abilities and volatile power of destruction. The series also does a well-done job of exploring Maximoff’s childhood and personality, as we grow to sympathize with the character. The other character I’ve enjoyed the most was Agatha Harkness, played by Kathryn Hahn. She fit the “nosy neighbor” role so well! I liked the rest of the cast as well, but I found Olsen and Hahn’s characters to be the most intriguing.
In terms of plot, WandaVision achieved a dynamic plot that only the power of Marvel Films could do. I think it’d be more difficult for someone to understand or appreciate the series who isn’t very well-versed in the MCU, but I still enjoyed the series’ subtle hints of reality-bending.
I don’t remember the music very well (I’m writing this review nearly a year after I watched the series, lol), but the set was very well designed. I love how committed they were in creating the perfect family sitcom home.
I would love to rewatch again, and see if there was anything I missed while watching it the first time.
This isn't worth watching if you haven't already or are done with the MCU. I don't know if I would get much at all out of WandaVision if I revisited it. I absolutely adored watching it for one reason though - the social aspect of watching a week to week show.
Being able to discuss the show's mystery, any cool ideas cause this was mostly but not completely different from other MCU stuff & ask about the L O R E was fun. I got to talk to people for upwards of an hour just talking about a fun show. There's been some rough stuff in mine & my friends' lives as with most others during the pandemic and this gave an easy thing to focus on and look forward to. The general pop off for the (redacted) twist was just incredibly fun to chat with people about.
I was shown S.W.O.R.D and their incredibly dudes rock HQ(pls google) thanks to said socializing, absolutely justified watching this
Wish WandaVision didn't just descend into the usual MCU action at the end but at least I'm not familiar with Vision stuff so it was at least a slightly newer version of the usual for me, that and Vision being a good boy will let me round this up to a 8
The worst part of WandaVision is that it actually made me debate watching Age of Ultron
Review by Clobby ClobstersBlockedParentSpoilers2021-03-06T10:46:24Z
Well, I just finished the series. What do I think?
WandaVision began with a solid start. The whole sitcom format was always engaging, as it paid homage to a genre and era of television I haven't experienced. With these first few episodes, the mystery that follows each strange happening was interesting and had me excited to see the next episode. I wanted to see Wanda deal with her grief and come to terms with her reality.
Darcy Lewis, Jimmy Woo, and Monica Rambeau appeared, and I have to say the show lost some of my interest. Seeing Monica reappear in a post-snap world was exciting, and Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis were entertaining as hell! I was still curious about what was going to happen next, but I was a little weary.
Then the last few episodes rolled around. Monica Rambeau suddenly gets powers (for no reason?), Agatha pretends she's all-knowing by spewing exposition, and the show drops Quick Silver, Rambeau, Woo and Darcy to give Wanda and her family more screen time.
Finally, the last episode disappoints. I was so bored watching CGI fights that have no substance underneath them. Vision talking to the other Vision was cool and probably the best thing in the last three episodes. But then we go back to Wanda. She figures out that she's torturing people and finally lets go of her fake reality. But not because she's learnt to deal with her grief but because... uh... I don't know.
She lets go of her fake reality, and this happens,
But she sacrificed nothing; she was holding these people hostage, torturing them; she gave up a fantasy for them. Way to go, Wanda! Afterwards, she runs off to a cabin and doesn't have to face any consequences for her villainous actions. Yay!
So I guess the show is about how we're all destined to do terrible things and get away with it?
Overall, WandaVision is a fun time. Although the sitcom stuff had me weary, I preferred it to the answers we got in the last few episodes. Sometimes, the mystery is better than the answer.
TECHNICAL SCORE: 6/10
ENJOYMENT SCORE: 5.5/10